Mumbai performers to help raise funds for Maharashtra's drought-hit villages

With a goal to spread awareness and raise funds for the issue of drought in the state, a group of 11 students started the organisation Pyaas a month ago. Their upcoming fundraiser titled #paani, will see seven performers from various fields of the arts, coming together to make a difference

Tejas Menon, Shamir Reuben, Ankur Tiwari, Sid Cuotto

With a goal to spread awareness and raise funds for the issue of drought in the state, a group of 11 students started the organisation Pyaas a month ago. Their upcoming fundraiser titled #paani, will see seven performers from various fields of the arts, coming together to make a difference. These include musicians like Tejas Menon, Sid Coutto and Ankur Tewari, among others.

Tejas Menon

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“As artistes, we have just been performing for ourselves and now we have a chance to do it for a cause. Both my parents are from villages and it could easily have been me in that scary situation, so this really means a lot to me personally,” said artiste Shamir Reuben who will be performing his original poetry at the event.

Shamir Reuben

Ridden with guilt for being unaware of the sheer number of farmer suicides last year, Sameer Thakur, who spearheaded the initiative said “Kids like me, who are from well-off families and go to good colleges, define news in a manner that anything that doesn’t concern us doesn’t make the national conversation. It is important that those of us who are capable of helping out, do so.”

Ankur Tiwari

The event, which is being conducted in collaboration with GiveIndia NGO, will be gathering funds for the projects of four NGOs working towards alleviating the issue. “While it is a group of artistes standing together to raise money, it will hopefully start a larger conversation on the matter and current policies,” explains Thakur. The line-up also features performances by stand-up comedians Amogh Ranadive and Kumal Kamra, and a spoken word recital by Harnidh Kaur.

Sid Cuotto

ON: June 9, 7 pm to 11 pm
AT: antiSOCIAL Khar, Rohan Plaza, 5th Road, Khar (W).
ENTRY: Rs 500
CALL: 65226324

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